A Safe Route Off The Streets: Action Homeless expands services for rough sleepers this Winter

Recent calls from Prime Minister Andy Burnham for an “Everyone In by Christmas” approach have rightly focused attention on the urgent need to bring people sleeping rough indoors before winter takes hold. Action Homeless will be at the forefront of delivering brand new services which will make this ambition a reality in Leicester.

Thanks to funding from the Government’s National Rough Sleeping Programme awarded to Leicester City Council, Action Homeless is opening 17 new bed spaces for people who are rough sleeping this month. Based across three neighbouring properties, the accommodation will provide safe, warm and secure places to stay, with all rooms offering en-suite facilities alongside access to communal kitchens and shared spaces where residents can connect with staff and one another.

No one should be facing the cold, isolation and danger of sleeping rough this winter. But while getting people inside is the essential first step, experience tells us that lasting change requires more than simply providing a roof.

Importantly, what makes this provision different is the support that sits alongside the accommodation. People experiencing rough sleeping often face far more than a housing problem. Many have experienced trauma, poor mental health, physical health challenges, relationship breakdown, substance misuse, financial difficulties or long periods disconnected from support services. Simply providing temporary accommodation without addressing these underlying issues risks seeing people return to homelessness once their stay comes to an end.

Under our new service, every resident will receive tailored support from dedicated Support Officers, helping them to identify goals, access services and develop a realistic plan for moving into longer-term accommodation. If we are serious about ending rough sleeping, we must provide people with the personalised support they need to break the cycle of homelessness and move towards a stable and secure future.

The aim is not just to provide a bed. It is to create a route away from homelessness.

One of the biggest challenges in responding to rough sleeping is ensuring that emergency accommodation does not become blocked because people have nowhere appropriate to move on to.

That is why Action Homeless is also making available a further 18 move-on units. These will provide an important next step for people who are ready for greater independence but still need ongoing support. Residents will receive regular coaching from support staff while benefiting from the stability and privacy of their own accommodation. Alongside existing projects such as The Hive, these additional homes will help create vital capacity throughout the homelessness pathway.

The call for “Everyone In by Christmas” is a challenge to all of us. The financial investment from government is significant, but the cost of doing nothing is far greater.

Our response is one of ambition, partnership and a commitment to providing both accommodation and meaningful support. At Action Homeless, we are ready to play our part and believe we have a real opportunity to change lives this winter and beyond.

Ending rough sleeping is about more than helping people survive the winter but helping them build a future beyond homelessness.